Spanish Forest Plan (Euroforest portal) “The Spanish Forest Plan (SFP) is the second component of the Spanish National Forest Programme (the first being the Spanish Forest Strategy – SFS). The SFP was approved by the Spanish government in July 2002. The Spanish Forest Plan has a 30-year timespan (2002-2032), and within this period it is planned that there will be two in-depth revisions of the document. The forest plan and annex are available (in Spanish) from the Ministerio de Medio Ambiente web pages.

Forests of the Iberian Peninsula (wikipedia) Excellent review of the most important types of forests.
“The woodlands of the Iberian Peninsula are distinct ecosystems on the Iberian Peninsula, spanning Spain and Portugal. Although the various regions are each characterized by distinct vegetation, there are some similarities across the peninsula. While the borders between these regions are not clearly defined, there is a mutual influence which makes it very hard to establish boundaries and some species find their optimal habitat in the intermediate areas.”

Forest climax types in Spain

Towards the measurement of net value added in Spanish forestlands
“this paper simulates market conditions for the different environmental values generated by Spanish forests”
“According to the Spanish National Forest Inventory, 51 % of the Spanish total surface is covered by forestlands. Of these forestlands, 53.5% are areas with at least 5 % of the land covered by trees. – In Spain the forestlands (monte) include the grasslands: “monte or forestland is the land where there are growing trees, coppices, scrublands or grass species, they were spontaneous or originated by seeded or plantation, except when the species are characteristic of cropping [or they are] treeless meadows” (Spanish Monte Law, 1957).

Forests and the forestry sector in Spain (FAO) Deforestation started in Spain during the Roman occupation in the first century BC and continued over the next two thousand years and more, to meet the population¿s needs for fuel, housing and strategic materials (timber to build boats). The consequence is that most of the southern part of the country has scant forest cover, without trees or with extensive Mediterranean-type scrub. However, growing conditions are favourable in the north, and forestry activities and industries are vigorous.

With 14.4 million hectares of forest cover, Spain is the fourth country in Europe in terms of forest resources (following Sweden, Finland and France, but excluding the Russian Federation). Forests ¿ which occupy almost 29 percent of the country¿s total land area ¿ are increasing by about 86 000 ha per year, both through natural expansion and through the forest plantation programme that has been under way for more than 50 years, with soil protection and erosion prevention as its main aims. Spain has received funds from the European Union in support of this programme.

The most productive forests are found in the Atlantic coastal zone and are composed mostly of pines (Pinus pinaster and P. radiata) and eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus), although some mixed natural forests of oak (Quercus robur and Q. patraea) and beech (Fagus sylvatica) are still found. In the Pyrenees, there are forests of silver fir (Abies alba), beech and pine, depending on altitude. The remainder of the country, where Mediterranean conditions predominate, is notable for its wealth of biological diversity. In some places Quercus spp. are found in pure stands, constituting wooded meadows (an agrosilvopastoral combination typical of Mediterranean zones) or mixed with pines and a wide variety of shrubs and scrub vegetation. In mountainous Mediterranean regions Pinus spp. become increasingly frequent as the altitude increases.

Since 1978, Spanish forest administration has been highly decentralized, inasmuch as the 17 autonomous communities are in charge of forests and forestry activities. The central government¿s responsibilities cover the formulation of basic legislation, national-level planning, coordination, foreign relations and certain other forestry issues, mainly falling under the Ministry of the Environment.

Sixty-six percent of forest lands belong to about two million owners, 30 percent to municipalities and only 4 percent to the autonomous communities. However, most municipal forests are public service forests (a special forest protection juridical category dating back to 1850) and these forests are also managed by the autonomous communities. About 25 percent of forests belong to the ¿protected areas¿ category. The main function of 88 percent of Spanish forests is that of protection against soil erosion and desertification, and regulation of the hydrological cycle, in a country with steep slopes and scant, irregular rainfall. The remaining 12 percent are mainly production forests, which produce 80 percent of the total supply of roundwood. Non-wood forest products such as cork, gum and medicinal and aromatic plants are also important. Other non-wood forest products are hunting, fodder, nuts, fruit and truffles. The landscape, tourism and recreation are increasingly important, mainly in Mediterranean zones.

Forest fires are a major problem, although there are large variations from year to year: on average, between 60 000 and 150 000 ha are burned each year, but the figure was over 400 000 ha in 1994.

Concern has been expressed over the effects of global warming on Spanish forest ecosystems, inasmuch as the predicted warmer, drier climate is likely to cause more fires and also the desertification of some zones of southern Spain.

Problems

Per capital consumption of sawnwood and wood pulp in Spain is much lower than the European average, while that of wood panels and paper is considerably higher. Spain imports significant quantities of certain wood products, especially sawnwood and paper. However, some Spanish forest industries, particularly the wood-based panel industry, are of global importance and export part of their production. The furniture industry accounts for most of the country¿s consumption of wood panels and in 1998 its exports were worth more than US$800 million.

About 42 percent ¿ a relatively high proportion ¿ of the paper consumed in Spain is recycled, providing a major component in the fibre needed for paper manufacture.